NURSES at a Pwllheli care home whose lack of English put patients at risk have signed up for a college course to improve their communication skills.

Inspectors who visited the Penrhos Care Home last December learned that one nurse used Google Translate to get through her shifts.

The care home has since stated that the member of staff who relied on Google Translate failed her probation period and has left.

And they said that a series of improvements had already taken place.

The home is owned by the Polish Housing Society Limited and is registered to care for up to 44 elderly people.

Following the December visit, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales issued nine non-compliance notices and when they returned in May found that five remained unmet.

Staff recruitment and training was, however, found to have improved, and that included 13 having been enrolled on a course of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) arranged through a local college.

The inspectors remained critical, however, of several aspects of the running of the home, stating: “People do not always have access to medical and specialist services when they need them, and referrals are not always made in a timely way.”

People are said to be at risk of not receiving safe and consistent care as staff do not have clear, accurate and comprehensive written guidance.

Under the heading of Leadership and Management, the inspectors say that, although the management is seen as approachable, there are “significant gaps with regard to leadership and direction”.

In response to the report, Michal Drewenski, who is responsible for the care home, said: “To clarify, the matter involving a new member of nursing staff using Google Translate during her shift, this was investigated fully and as a result the nurse in question failed her probation period and has not worked for the company since December 2016.

“The majority of our care team, including nursing staff, all have a very good standard of English. Some employees across our various departments have been allocated to the ESOL ‘new term’ training in September to improve their already competent level of English language skills.

“Within the care home, measures have been put in place to ensure written documentation systems are updated and improved to ensure that there is now substantial written evidence that care giving has been provided to the high standard that we strive to provide.

“Our acting care home manager is currently awaiting her final interview to complete her registration process.

“With support from health care agencies, we at Penrhos Home are confident to meet the remaining non-compliances and regain the high standards and reputation for care we have had in the past.”